Mail-crane



(No Model.)

A. MONTZHBIMER.

MAIL CRANE.

Patented Oct. 6,

144: ucnmsyzrzns w. moruntuo, wAsHmomN. n. r.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

ARTHUR MONTZHEIMER, OF MILWAUKEE, \VISCONSIN.

MAIL-GRAN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,955, dated October6,1896.

Application filed July 6, 1896. Serial No. 598,155. (No model.)

To all whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR MONTZHEIMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of\Visconsin, have invented a certain new, useful, and valuableImprovement in Mail- Cranes, of which the followingis a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention has relation to mail-cranes; and it consists in the novelconstruction and arrangement of its parts, as hereinafter described.

The object of my invention is to provide a mail-crane that willautomatically turn the arms from the track as soon as the mail-bag istaken therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of the mailcrane. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views and will beexplained hereinafter.

The casting 1 serves as the base or foundation of the crane proper, 2.The lower end of the crane 2 is journaled in the casting 1. The saidcrane 2 is adapted to make a quarterrevolution. The casting is providedwith the slot 3. Said slot is spirally inclined and passes one-quarteraround the casting. The handle i passes through said slot 3 and isattached at its inner end to the crane 2. The chain 5 is fixed to asuitable lug attached to the casting l. Said chain is provided at itslower end with a hook which is adapted to pass under the handle 4, asshown in the heavy lines in Fig. 1, and thereby hold the handle up andthus retain the arm 6 of the crane 2 in the position as shown.

The outer end of the arm 6 is provided with the rigid finger '7, whichsupports the upper end of the mail-bag in the ordinary manner.

The crane 2 is also provided with the swinging arm'S, said arm alsohaving at its outer end a finger adapted to engage the lower end of themail-bag, as shown. The casting 13 may be adjusted up or down on thecrane 2. The upper end of the chain 9 is connected to the arm 8. Thelower end of said chain is connected to the outer ends of the yoke 10,said yoke being pivotally supported in the bifurcated end of the uprightrod 11, said rod in turn being secured to the casting 1.

The crane is further provided with the laterally-eXt-endin g lugs 12 12,which are adapted to rest on the yoke 10 when the parts are in theposition as shown in the heavy lines in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a rear View ofthe bifurcated end of the rod 11; and Fig. 3 is a top View of the yoke10, illustrating how it supports the lugs 12 12.

In operation the device works as follows: The handle 4 is raised in theslot 3. This brings the arms 8 and 6 toward the railwaytrack. The hookof the chain 5 is then caught under the handle 1-. The arm Sis thenswung up. This brings the yoke 10 up under the lugs 12 12, and the crane2 is raised slightly. This permits the book of the chain 5 to fall fromunder the handle 4:, and the said chain assumes a perpendicularposition, as indicated by the dotted lines. The mail-bag is then placedon the fingers of the arms 6 and 8 in the manner as shown, and thus thedevice is set. lVhen the mail-car passes, it re moves the mail-bag fromthe device, whereupon the arm 8 instantly swings down. This allows theyoke 10 to drop, and as the crane 2 descends the spirally-inclined slot3, receiving the handle 4, will cause the crane 2 to make aquarter-revolution, and thus the arm 6 is automatically turned away fromthe track. The lugs 12 12 assume the position as indicated by the dottedlines 1a in Fig. 1. As the said lugs are turned they pass through theyoke 10.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a revolving crane a locking deviceconsisting of a pivotally-mounted yoke, lugs secured to the craneproper, a swinging arm secured to the crane, a connection connectingsaid swinging arm with the yoke.

2. A crane consisting of a hollow casting,

said casting having in its side a spirally-inclined slot, the craneproper pivotally mounted in said casting, lugs located on said craneabove the casting, a handle attached to the crane and extending throughthe said slot, a yoke pivotally mounted on the casting and adapted toengage the under side of the crane-lugs, a swinging arm attached to thecrane, a connection connecting said yoke with the swinging arm, saidcrane adapted to automatically turn when the bag is taken said hookadapted to disengage the protrufroin the same sion when the crane israised. 10

3. In a revolving crane a supporting de- In testimony whereof I affix mysignature vice consisting of a hook attached by a fiexiin presence oftwo witnesses.

ble connection to a stationary point; an as- ARTHUR MONTZHEIMER.

cending and descending protrusion secured itnesses:

to the crane, said hook adapted to pass un- CHAS. L. GOSS,

der the said protrusion and support the crane, V. WRIGHT.

